Pates

Actually i think he just told Neale not to hesitate about the record, that he knew his form was off and he will not complain if left out of the side. I don't believe he actually ASKED to be dropped.

Did very well today, i am glad he was dropped (thus ending his record) because it puts him on notice that sub-standard games won't be tolerated. Good on him though, and that goal was nothing short of phenomenal!

That's exactly what i thought as well, though i wouldn't quite have put it like that. I might've been ok with it if Selwood had gotten fined or suspended, but even then nothing should give you an excuse for belting someone. He used his daughter as an excuse to get of rather than standing up and saying, "i made a mistake and i let my teammates down" he took the gutless option to use a "but he started it" explanation. And for the record, I started booing him AFTER he pointed to his tat.

T Johnstone (hamstring) replaced in selected side by C Sylvia B Moloney (groin) replaced in selected side by M Bate M Whelan (hamstring) N Jones (ankle) D Bell (concussion) N Brown (calf) P Wheatley (shoulder) These are the injuries we sustained today. One would think Whelan, Jones, and Brown won't be right for next week. I'm not convinced Moloney will be OK, same with Travis. In the 15 years i've been supporting Melbourne i have never seen us have such a rotten run with injuries, this is beyond frustrating. What on earth can we do about it?

He played well today, i knew he would, but he didn't deserve to be out there. Pointing to something like a tattoo of a daughter, wife, mother, father ect. IMO is appropriate if that person is undergoing some kind of hardship at that time or has died (ala Travis pointing to painted armband at Troy's memorial game). But what Headland did by pointing to his tattoo of his daughter, to me, said "this is why I'm out here, so screw you". He was lucky to be out there, he played well and he should've just gone through the game quietly. The way he acted felt like he spat in the face of every Melbourne supporter who came that day. I can't wait for the day when he gets belted into oblivion and is out for the four weeks he deserved.

Exactly what i was going to say, Condemned. He is down on form but hardly the worst today, i would prefer that he go back to Sandy to get some confidence but who would you bring in for him? If Travis is OK for next week, than maybe, but we've lost Jones and Whelan today, Moloney didn't come up (as expected). It doesn't seem likely that he'll be dropped.

We needed Nick Smith! Will that do it? Seriously though, i don't think it was Neal's doing today. It's a shame that he'll be judged on a year in which he really had no control over our downfall, but that's life. Tactics or not, had we had even half of the players missing today we would've won IMO.

Fair call, mate. I personally think that Selwood went too far with his sledging, but if was the difference between us having a premiership or not than i think a lot of people morals would become selective.

I went to the 2003 match, we were up by i think 25 points going into the last quarter and the swans slammed home 10 goals to 1 to win by about the same amount. It was a hard night to take made even worse by us being surround by some of the most ignorant and feral supports I've had the displeasure of being around. One of the Swans players went down in a marking contest when he run into ONE OF HIS OWN, and the Swans supporters were abusing us saying that our players were pathetic and gutless. If I'd been the age i am now i would've stood up to them and given plenty back, but i was like 15 at the time and my mum was with us. I would love nothing more than to come home with a win, especially one like last year.

I'd very much hope that if i had any kids in the future (hopefully quite a bit of a distant future as i'm in second year uni!) they would be Dees through and through. Although choosing to support Melbourne, or any team for that matter, condemns you to much pain, it's worth it for the moments like last years qualifying final or for when we do finally reach the Holy Grail.

I don't think he was having a go at the club or the players, bob, i think he was just making a point that despite the fact that it's a good chance we will continue our poor form, he will be there. It's always interesting to see how many people jump off the bandwagon and can't be f&*% coming to the games when the team's down, personally i think that if you aren't willing to take the bad than you don't deserve the good. But that's just my opinion.

Can someone please tell me what the deal is with Rivers? The club has told us nothing.

It might also help if our players can learn to kick, seriously guys your meant to be among the best of the best!

Ratten would be a bit out there, he was credited with making our midfield tougher in the year that he was here. Viney might be a someone to consider, but i don't think he's had much AFL coach experience, i know he's had other experience though. I like the idea of going for someone a bit left-field, but i think I'll hurl if Lyon becomes our coach next year. This is, of course, assume our season continues it's uncontrollable nose-dive. If we make top 4 as we all expected at the start i think we can let Neal off the hook!

I'm going to the Sydney match, had it booked before this nightmare started so there's no backing out now!

But when will the ultimate good come around to us!? As you say though, you can have good without the bad, hopefully the good won't be too far away.

I'll be there, i consider myself a tragic supporter who just comes back for more. But mostly i think about how i stuck with them through the times of 97, 99, 01, and 03 and although i don't think it made a huge difference on the field, i know they must've appreciated any support they could get.

Have to say though, i can't see ND being at the club next year. I have a feeling the first half of this year (at least) will be an absolute nightmare for us.

You don't think Brock McLean, Neitz, Robbo, Rivers, Bartram being out has something to do with how things are looking?

42 points the difference.:(:(:(:(:(:(

Green seems like the only forward presenting well today. Melb 4.2.26 Geel 8.8.56

Is there anyone that can hit a target for our forward 50. Sounds like Hawkins is having a buffet. Melb 3.2.20 Geel 8.8.56 He's being taken off, thank god.

Bloody Hawkins again. Melb 3.1.19 Geel 7.8.50

Green got the first from a lucky free-kick aparently. Melb 3.1.19 Geel 5.8.38

Aparently Nathan Ablett got injured during the warm-up, Selwood has replaced him but i would've thought that if he comes out than that's it he's in.